Our Managing Partner, Philip O'Leary pictured in this month's edition of The Law Society Gazette

The number of solicitors working at the Legal Aid Board’s 30 offices countrywide stood at 150 in 2018, up 17% on 2013, when there were 128 legal officers. In answer to a Dáil question from Clare Daly TD, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan gave the figures for solicitors working in Legal Aid Board centres in each of the past five years. Most numbers are static or show a small increase or decrease. The number of solicitors employed was static in 2013/14 at 128, rose to 138 in 2015, and grew to 143 in 2016. By 2017, the figure was 146, which increased to 150 in 2018. The board says that it will carry out recruitment activity at solicitor grade over the next three years.